This weekend begins with a shop opening and an apéritif (I don’t know if you've noticed, but for me Thursdays are included in the weekend; I like to specify that I work on Friday, though). Actually, make that a re-opening: Volver is still Volver, but the extravagant second hand shop has changed locations.
Thursday 4 pm - 9 pm, Volver (Konradstrasse 77)

What an appealing combination: the hair salon Mad Art shows Pipo Schaad’s art for the second time. The hairdressers from Mad Art are undoubtedly artists, and I like that they offer other artists the opportunity to to exhibit their creations. As an individual hairstyle belongs to an outstanding outfit, Pipo Schaad’s paintings belong to a creative household. Check him out.
Thursday, Mad Art (Zweierstrasse 22)
Exhibition from 16 April until 1 June

Wow, this weekend is all about music, from hip hop to indie, to techno, to electric. The Future is Now festival takes place in four locations (Exil, Zukunft, Cabaret and the legendary restaurant Rosso), and it looks like an explosive mix. I have three pairs of festival passes to give away. Email me.
Saturday, various times and locations

Another party at the Walcheturm, and this time it’s two events in one! It begins with Kostume No. 2:  nine designers and labels from Zurich, Berlin and Stockholm display their creations. Check it out here. After the  fashion show, the temperature increases with the Killer Party. The organizers bring two top acts Kris Menace and Hey Today to Zurich. I have three pairs of tickets to give away. Send an email directly to the organizer: [email protected]
Saturday 9 pm, Walcheturm

Café Henrici hosts Naima, the Electro Pop trio from Bern, as part of April’s live music Tuesdays. Singer Christine Hasler (who sings in English, by the way) brings equal parts lyricism and ferocity to her sound. Admission is free, but donations are most welcome.

Tuesday 8 pm, Café Henrici

Hive, that bastion of evening entertainment, is hosting a game night on Wednesday. Featuring games, great music, and even a “little interlude with a surprise” (I wonder…), this night promises to put a spring in your step, even if these April showers are getting you down.
Wednesday 7.30 pm, Hive

Fresh fruits and vegetables, flowers in bloom, spices, cheeses, teas, meats, honey – Zurich’s farmers’ markets offer the freshest food at competitive prices, along with the whole experience of shopping al fresco in the heart of the city. I often find myself at the Helvetiaplatz market (Tuesday and Friday from 6 am to 11 am), or at the Town Hall Bridge market for some Appenzeller bread (Saturday from 6 am to 12 pm). Eat local, my friends, and enjoy.

This just in: pixel creatures invade NYC! At least they do in the latest film by Patrick Jean. Skyscrapers play Tetris, Pac Man eats subways and Frogger dodges yellow cabs. Maybe this is what happens if you spend too much time at your computer?

The 2010 census is beginning in America, and sometimes it can be hard to remember that all those statistics represent individual people. Chat up Americans on the street (virtually, that is) to paint your own portrait of a nation.